37th Infantry Division (United States)

37th Infantry Division (United States)
Unit name	37th Infantry Division
Caption	Shoulder sleeve insignia
Dates	1917–1918, 1923–1968
Country	United States
Branch	United States Army
Type	Infantry
Size	Division
Nickname	"Buckeye Division"
Battles	World War I, World War II

37th Infantry Division (United States). The 37th Infantry Division was a formation of the United States Army primarily composed of Ohio National Guard units. Nicknamed the "Buckeye Division," it served with distinction in both World War I and the Pacific War during World War II. Following the war, it was reorganized as a component of the Army National Guard until its eventual inactivation in 1968.

History

The division was originally constituted from Ohio National Guard units in 1917 following the American entry into World War I. It was formally organized at Camp Sheridan near Montgomery, Alabama and saw its first combat service on the Western Front. After the Armistice of 11 November 1918, the division was demobilized in 1919. It was reconstituted in the interwar period in 1923, remaining a key part of the Ohio Army National Guard. The division was inducted into federal service again in 1940, training at Camp Shelby in Mississippi before deployment to the Pacific Theater.

Organization

Throughout its history, the division's core infantry regiments were the 145th Infantry Regiment, 147th Infantry Regiment, and 148th Infantry Regiment. Its supporting units included the 135th Field Artillery Regiment, 136th Field Artillery Regiment, and the 134th Field Artillery Regiment. The division also contained organic engineer, medical, quartermaster, and signal corps battalions. This structure was typical of a "square" infantry division during World War I and was later reorganized into a triangular configuration before World War II.

World War I

The 37th Division arrived in France in June 1918 as part of the American Expeditionary Forces. After initial training, it was assigned to the II Corps and entered the Meuse-Argonne Offensive in October 1918. The division fought in the vicinity of the Argonne Forest and along the Meuse River, engaging in heavy combat against German forces. It participated in the final Allied offensive that led to the Armistice of 11 November 1918, suffering significant casualties. The division was stationed in the Belgian sector during the occupation period before returning to the United States for demobilization.

World War II

Following training, the 37th Division deployed to the South Pacific Area in 1942. Its first major combat operation was the Battle of New Georgia, where it fought in the Munda Point campaign on New Georgia. The division later played a pivotal role in the Bougainville campaign, engaging in protracted jungle warfare against Imperial Japanese Army forces. In 1945, the division was transferred to the Philippines, participating in the brutal Battle of Manila and subsequent operations on Luzon, including actions at the Intramuros and along the ZigZag Pass. It was preparing for the invasion of Japan when the war ended.

Postwar era

After Victory over Japan Day, the division performed occupation duty in Japan before returning to the United States and inactivating in late 1945. It was reactivated as part of the Ohio Army National Guard in 1946. During the Cold War, the division was reorganized as a pentomic division and later as a Reorganization Objective Army Division (ROAD). Its elements were occasionally called up for federal service, including during the Berlin Crisis of 1961. The division was finally inactivated in 1968 as part of a broader reorganization of the Army National Guard, with its units redistributed to other formations.

Commanders

Notable commanders included Major General Charles S. Farnsworth during its initial organization and training for World War I. In the interwar period, command was held by Ohio National Guard officers like Major General George H. Wood. During World War II, the division was led by Major General Robert S. Beightler, who commanded it throughout its entire combat service in the Pacific Theater. Postwar commanders included Major General John H. Collier.

Legacy

The division's service is commemorated by memorials in Ohio, including at the Ohio Statehouse. Its lineage is continued by the 37th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, part of the Ohio Army National Guard. The division's actions, particularly in the Liberation of Manila, are remembered for their intensity and cost. The shoulder sleeve insignia, a red circle with seven white stars representing Ohio's status as the seventh state admitted after the original thirteen, remains a symbol of the "Buckeye Division."

Category:Infantry divisions of the United States Army Category:Military units and formations established in 1917 Category:Military units and formations disestablished in 1968